Marathon’s Server Slam hits 143,000 players, but an odd chat filter steals the spotlight
2026-02-27
Image credit: Photo by Kamil Switalski on Unsplash
Bungie’s highly scrutinized reboot of the sci-fi shooter Marathon has officially entered a critical testing phase, and for a studio that has weathered a storm of recent challenges, the initial forecast looks surprisingly bright. The "Server Slam" event hit the ground running, achieving approximately 143,000 concurrent players on Steam on its very first day, according to data cited by GamesRadar. While these metrics signal a potential return to form for the embattled developer, the launch was briefly overshadowed by a bizarre, unforced error that shifted the conversation from gameplay mechanics to conspiracy theories.
The surge in player interest didn't just populate servers; it propelled the title rapidly up the charts, with GameSpot noting its quick ascent on Steam’s Top-Sellers list during the test window. These figures place Marathon in a dead heat with its primary competitor, Embark Studios’ Arc Raiders. As noted by GamesRadar, the rival extraction shooter recently peaked at 189,000 concurrents, setting the stage for a fierce battle for dominance in the genre. However, the full picture of Marathon's reach remains incomplete; while Steam provides transparent data, console player counts for PlayStation and Xbox remain unknown, leaving the total size of the player base a matter of speculation.
Despite the strong numbers, the rivalry between the two games took a literal—and awkward—turn inside Marathon’s global chat. Shortly after the servers went live, players discovered a peculiar restriction: typing the name "Arc Raiders" resulted in the text being aggressively censored, replaced entirely by asterisks. As reported by Kotaku, the apparent censorship sparked immediate ridicule across social media. The community quickly interpreted the filter as a sign of corporate insecurity, viewing it as a heavy-handed attempt by Bungie to silence discussion of their closest competitor rather than a technical glitch.
Bungie moved quickly to dispel the notion that they were intentionally suppressing their rival's name. In a statement captured by Kotaku, the official Bungie Help account clarified the situation: "This was an error on our side with a config file. We have updated the config and 'Arc Raiders' is no longer filtered." The prompt deployment of a fix helped de-escalate the situation, turning what could have been a PR disaster into a community meme.
Looking past the chat controversy, the underlying sentiment for the "Server Slam" appears cautiously optimistic. Players have expressed enthusiasm for the polished mechanics and high player counts, viewing the test as a potential revival for Bungie. While critical details regarding the full release's monetization model remain absent from current reports, the initial engagement suggests that Bungie is ready to fight for its place in the extraction shooter market. As GamesRadar highlights, the narrow gap between Marathon and Arc Raiders indicates that the war for the extraction genre is just beginning.